Irish soldiers come to aid of UN staff after attack in Chad

125 troops in 16 armoured personnel carriers were deployed during the rescue mission

IRISH TROOPS serving in Chad have evacuated humanitarian workers and three wounded anti-government rebels to the Irish camp in the east of the country after coming to the aid of United Nations staff during a rebel attack.

A total of 125 troops in 16 armoured personnel carriers were deployed during the rescue mission on Tuesday morning. News of the rescue only emerged last night.

According to the Defence Forces, Irish troops serving with the European peace enforcement mission (EUfor) were contacted at their base in Goz Beida by staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) just after 10am on Tuesday morning.

The UNHCR requested urgent assistance because their compound at Kefri, about 50km south west of Goz Beida, was under attack by 10 armed anti-government rebels. It is understood the rebels fired on the compound.

The Irish immediately dispatched a quick reaction force of 40 troops to evacuate the UNHCR staff. A further party of 80 troops was deployed a short time later.

As the Irish arrived at the compound the small group of rebels was withdrawing. The Irish immediately evacuated some 24 UNHCR staff from the Kefri compound to their Camp Ciara base in Goz Beida.

As the rebels left the area around the Kefri compound they were engaged by units from the Chadian army. During exchanges two of the rebels were shot dead and three were wounded.

The local mayor, or chief, had been killed by the rebels just before their firefight with the Chadian army. The Irish did not engage with the rebels at any point. However, they remained in the area and when the fighting stopped they went to the aid of the wounded rebels. The three wounded men were taken for medical treatment to Camp Ciara.

It was the second time in a month that the Irish were called upon to evacuate UNHCR personnel. A group of rebels attacked a UNHCR compound in Goz Beida in June forcing Irish and Dutch EUfor troops to respond.

When the incident in Kefri ended on Monday afternoon the Army's quick reaction force withdrew. However, the other 85 troops and their armoured personnel carriers remained at the scene last night to deter any further rebel activity in the area. The situation last night was described as "calm" by the Defence Forces.

A spokesman said the reason for the initial attack on Kefri and the UNHCR compound was not clear but is thought to be linked to ethnic tensions in the area. Rebel groupings travel across the desert in Chad along the border with Darfur in convoys of vehicles and often raid compounds housing UN and other NGO staff to steal fuel.

Some 400 Irish troops are deployed with EUfor in Chad. The multinational 3,700-strong force is charged with protecting refugee camps filled with hundreds of thousands who have fled fighting in nearby Darfur.

EUfor is also charged with protecting internally displaced persons and UN and other humanitarian staff and facilities. EUfor will remain in Chad until at least next March, when a traditional blue beret UN force is due to take over.

However, if the UN force is not ready, the EUfor mission may be extend beyond the end of its 12-month deployment next March. Ireland's participation in any extended EUfor mission or as part of a traditional UN deployment will be decided on by Government in coming months.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times